There comes a time when you have to lay all those burdens aside and make a physical decision to choose joy. Joy is something we have to work on and decide to carry with us throughout every moment of every day. Does this mean that we are constantly smiling? No, but it DOES mean that while happiness springs from our surrounding circumstances, joy springs from the heart. Joy is there when happiness has fled away. And joy will be around long after those feelings of happiness die away and the cares of the world creep in. Joy will be our constant companion IF we allow it to be. So, how do we choose joy day by day? Here are a few ways to keep joy in your day.
START THE DAY WITH GOD
I can’t express this enough. Joy is only going to be there when we can walk with the Master. Jesus, the greatest example, shows us how He started His day. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35
KEEP CLOSE ACCOUNTS WITH GOD AND OTHERS
What does this mean? It means keep your temper tapped down and your fellowship with God and those around you on the right track and this will help you have joy during your day. It will be refreshing to have forgiveness and cleansing in your life. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
CONTROL YOUR TONGUE
This one may be a difficult one but it IS doable. When we lash out at those around us or even the stranger in the store, we find our joy leaving pretty quickly. No peace and certainly no joy can come from having a quick temper. If you step back and REALLY think about it; lack of control is really a pride issue. We are really saying “I want MY will asserted in this situation and I’m not willing to submit to anyone else.” So this kind of goes back to the renewing we get when we start our day with God. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. “ Proverbs 4:23
CHANNEL YOUR EMOTIONS
WHAT? Julie, YOU said this? Sort of. What I’m going to say truly is to have joy in our every day lives, we need to take those emotions that are filtering in and filter them right on out with singing. If you sing some of those wonderful old hymns of old or quote some verses (sing them, too) then you will see that joy just has a way of sticking around and holding on and the peace you will have will be beyond the understanding of many around you. Your testimony as you sing your way through to joy will be a blessing to so many others. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4